We recently sent an email survey to 228 ANCHO tenants to ask their views on the frequency, content and format of the ANCHO newsletter.
17 people completed the consultation, which is a response rate of 7.5%. The survey asked a series of multiple-choice questions and questions that allowed our tenants to provide written feedback. This helped us to get a wide range of data about how they feel about the newsletter.

Summary of responses

91% of tenants surveyed replied that they read our newsletter in some way, be it cover to cover or skim reading.

6 out of 9 respondents preferred to receive email bulletins, with 1 preferring printed copies and 2 preferring both printed and online copies. Tenant responses showed that tenants demonstrated equal preference for an email bulletin once every two months and once every three months.
Tenants told us that they liked the content of the newsletter. Key themes brought up in the content feedback included news that related directly to tenants, and content about important contacts or services that could help them.

Outcome

The high level of readership among our tenants shows that there is a definite need for a newsletter or a news bulletin.
Due to tenant’s preference for email bulletins and their concerns over the financial implications of producing the newsletter we will send a newsletter email bulletin every two months and a printed version of our newsletter every six months so that there are two printed copies every year.
Doing this will let us communicate with our tenants more frequently, reduce waste, and support those who do not have access to the internet.

​The Scottish Housing Minister Kevin Stewart has moved to reassure social housing tenants of the safety measures in place as landlords, including ANCHO, plan the resumption of routine repairs and planned maintenance work.  The letter also outlines measures which have been put in place to assist tenants through the pandemic.
In an open letter to council, housing association and housing co-operative tenants to provide advice and information on Scotland's route map for moving out of the coronavirus crisis, Mr Stewart said individual landlords are now beginning to plan for resuming services following the guidance available, and taking account of local circumstances.
Kevin Stewart's open letter to housing association tenants